Freiburg: Hundreds protest against Merz's controversial statements!

Freiburg: Hundreds protest against Merz's controversial statements!

On October 25, 2025, hundreds of people gathered at the Old Synagogue in Freiburg for an impressive demonstration against the statements made by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The reason for the protest was a statement by Merz in which he spoke of problems in the “cityscape” in connection with the population who had experienced migration, which caused great irritation. The organizers had originally registered 200 participants, but the police estimated the number of people present at around 600, which shows the lively participation and great interest in this topic. SWR reports that the demonstration was organized by various initiatives and political groups, including the “Independent Women Freiburg” alliance and the Die Linke party.

Participants were invited to appear with posters, folding chairs or in costume to symbolize the diversity of society. Among the participants was 60-year-old Martje Ahrens, who emphasized the importance of solidarity in times of the shift to the right. The two 20-year-old activists Lia K. and Emma W. expressed sharp criticism of Merz: While Lia accused Merz of exploiting women's rights, Emma emphasized that his statements used racist stereotypes. The demonstration had its origins in a conversation between social worker Armin Fahl and friends in which they discussed the effects of the shift to the right on migrant children.

Merz's controversies in context

These statements by Merz are not isolated. A few days ago, the Chancellor in Brandenburg announced that the government had drastically reduced the number of new asylum applications. He pointed to a decline of 60 percent from August 2024 to August 2025. Nevertheless, his use of the term “cityscape” was met with vehement criticism, which is perceived as discriminatory and hurtful. Green party leader Katharina Dröge in particular called for more decency in political rhetoric and pointed out the consequences of such statements. daily news highlights that this term is often used as a hidden code for people who are not perceived as “German” or “white”.

The use of such terms reinforces the collective feeling of unease in society and legitimizes divisive behavior, as sociologist Nina Perkowski explains. Studies show that fear of crime and racism has grown among the population, not least due to media pressure and right-wing extremist discourse. Young people in particular have developed an increased awareness of these problems and are increasingly willing to take an active role against racism and discrimination.

Growing protest culture

Commitment against racism has increased significantly in Germany in recent years. A recent study shows that the proportion of people taking part in protests against racism increased from 4 percent in spring 2023 to 17 percent in summer 2024. This corresponds to a quadrupling, like interkulturwoche.de reported. Many people perceive racism, discrimination and social exclusion as serious threats to their security.

This growing culture of protest shows that anti-racist movements in Germany are anything but a fringe phenomenon. Younger and academically educated people in particular show a high willingness to work for diversity and against discrimination. With initiatives like this demonstration, it becomes clear that the voices of civil society are becoming louder and louder and are fighting against the division of society.